Jinwoo Ha slowly opened his eyes. The damp smell of the cave pierced his nose—cold, wet, and enough to make his hair stand on end. He looked around… and immediately regretted not having had his morning coffee.
The last thing he remembered was examining exotic reptiles at his clinic in Seoul—a small crocodile that was far too greedy. And now? There was a creature the size of a house, something that might be a crocodile or… who knew what, staring at him coldly from a distance.
"Okay… either this is a nightmare, or I've just stumbled into some extreme reptile reality show. At least I'm still alive," he muttered, sitting down on the cold stone floor.
Amid the chaos… his eyes landed on a gigantic dragon. Black-and-gold scales, a body the size of a three-story building, eyes of gold that seemed to pierce straight through bone.
Jinwoo blinked. "Okay… definitely not a crocodile. Or a normal reptile. Maybe… a super-extreme patient. I'm a genius exotic veterinarian. I can handle this. Well, I hope I don't die first…"
The dragon growled. Heat swept across Jinwoo's face, and the sound—directly inside his head—was deep and commanding:
Jinwoo leaned back slightly, a thin smile forming. "Summoned? Oh, so you're a premium patient without an appointment?"
A small flame shot from the dragon's nostrils. "You don't have magic!"
Jinwoo shrugged. "Magic? Sorry, I'm an exotic veterinarian, not some talking freak. But if you want treatment… there's a fee. I don't work for free, especially for a patient as… well, big as you."
The dragon growled.
"Ugh, I hate humans…"
"Yeah, I might be human, but my skills are more than enough. You should be grateful I'm one of the best veterinarians in Korea."
The dragon resigned itself.
Jinwoo smirked slightly, opening his bag. "Step one: survive. Step two: get paid. Step three… we'll see later."
Jinwoo leaned forward, his eyes sweeping over Drakhen's entire body. The black-and-gold scales reflected the cave's light, a body the size of a three-story building. The dragon's warm breath brushed against his face, but he stayed calm—or at least tried to.
"Step one: don't die," he muttered, tapping his chin. "Step two: don't panic… too often."
Drakhen tilted its head, golden eyes staring sharply at him. "You… are too close, human. What do you mean?"
Jinwoo shrugged, half-smiling. "I mean… I'm a veterinarian. I need to know what's 'wrong.' I could die if I touch you without observing first. Logical, right?"
The dragon snorted, a small flame flickering from its nostrils. "And your fee?"
Jinwoo narrowed his eyes, staring at the massive body. "Fee? Look… I'm just a regular human. High risk = high reward. You're huge, hot, and could kill me in one move. So… we negotiate first. I survive, I get paid, you stay alive. Deal?"
Drakhen stared silently, its body trembling slightly. "I… have no other choice. Treat me."
Jinwoo stifled a thin laugh, opened his bag, and pulled out a few simple tools and herbal potions. "My first legendary patient. Maximum risk, maximum reward. Step one: survive. Step two: get paid. Step three: stay alive and count the profit."
Drakhen lowered its head slightly, another small flame flickering from its nostrils. "Human… you really are… strange."
Jinwoo squinted, a thin smile still on his face. "Yeah, strange… but this human knows how to survive facing a legendary monster without panicking. And who knows… maybe even make a profit from this absurd situation."
Drakhen lifted its head, golden eyes piercing sharply. "Human… you're coming closer again. What is your intention?"
"Checking your response," Jinwoo replied casually, as if he were just dealing with a greedy crocodile back at his Seoul clinic. "A little touch, see the reaction… don't panic. If I die, you lose too. Win-win."
He pulled a small bottle from his bag, twirling it in his hands. The herbal scent wafted up. "Okay, this is just a regular potion. Don't freak out—I'm not a magic expert, just a genius exotic veterinarian."
Drakhen growled, and this time the hot steam nearly swept Jinwoo's face. He raised a hand, pretending to hold his breath. "Wow, just the right temperature. Could melt skin… but still safe, at least for a clever human like me."
Carefully, Jinwoo pressed the bottle against one of the dragon's scales, waiting for its reaction. Drakhen hissed, a small flame flicking from its nostrils. "Human… you really are strange."
"Yeah, human… but this human knows how to turn risk into… entertainment and profit," Jinwoo grinned. He began circling the dragon, observing every muscle contraction, tail movement, and breathing pattern. "Aha… tail is a bit stiff, probably tense muscles. Could be used for light therapy… and extra fee later."
Drakhen lowered its head slightly, as if forcing Jinwoo to hurry. "You… are amusing, but don't make a wrong move."
"Amusing? Maybe. But trust me… I know how to keep a legendary patient alive—and still get paid," Jinwoo replied, stifling a laugh. "Bonus: all done without panicking, in maximum style. Humor? Of course free for premium patients."
The dragon stared at him for a long moment, then let out a short growl, as if acknowledging both the courage and the foolishness of this tiny human. Jinwoo leaned forward, locking eyes with the golden gaze. "First legendary patient… first profit… and a new adventure begins. Hope you don't spit fire in my face."
Jinwoo stood tall before Drakhen, the massive dragon with black-and-gold scales, a body the size of a three-story building. Its breath was hot and heavy, each rise and fall of its chest making the cave air tremble. Jinwoo watched every movement, assessing the dragon's condition with calm eyes, without a hint of panic.
Drakhen tilted its head, golden eyes locking onto Jinwoo, and its voice rumbled directly in his mind:
"Human… I cannot handle this alone. You must… help me."
Jinwoo nodded slowly, realizing the gravity of the situation. He adjusted his stance, scanning the scales radiating excess heat and the tense muscles beneath. Every movement, from chest to tail, was carefully observed.
He opened his bag and took out several modern-world potions. The herbal aroma filled the cave—not magic, not a spell, but scientific knowledge brought from the human world. In one bottle was Chamomilla recutita, to calm the nervous system and muscles, in another Mentha arvensis, to cool overheated scales, and Glycyrrhiza glabra, to ease mild irritation in the tissues.
Jinwoo dripped a small amount of the potion onto the hottest scale, watching the dragon's reaction. Drakhen hissed long and low, lowering its head, its body trembling—the first sign that the therapy was accepted.
Carefully, Jinwoo applied a compress soaked in Mentha arvensis, monitoring changes in temperature and muscle tension. The dragon's breathing remained heavy, but the heat gradually subsided. Jinwoo leaned in, listening to the subtle vibrations of its lungs and the rhythm of its heartbeat.
He looked into those golden eyes again, noting every subtle response. His hands moved deftly, precise and focused. The cave's silence was broken only by the dragon's breathing and hissing. Jinwoo knew this was no ordinary patient. This was a legendary creature with serious problems, demanding skill, courage, and expertise—not drama or luck.
Drakhen tilted its head, its black-and-gold scales gleaming in the cave's light. Its golden eyes locked sharply onto Jinwoo.
"Take it," its voice echoed in Jinwoo's mind. "This is more valuable than any gold or gemstone. Remember… guard it carefully."
Jinwoo stared at the pulsating purple Core in the dragon's palm. The air around them felt heavy, the heat of Drakhen's scales radiating across the distance, yet he stepped forward, each movement measured and calm.
He reached for the Core carefully. The object shifted slowly into his hand, its vibration gentle yet solid, as if demanding respect. Drakhen's eyes remained fixed on him, sharp and vigilant, but there was no aggression—only a cold, watchful scrutiny.
Jinwoo felt a strange energy within the Core—not ordinary magic, not human logic—but something that made his heart beat a little faster. He placed it in his bag, a safe position, without haste, as if aware that one careless move could be fatal.
He glanced at Drakhen briefly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. The dragon lowered his head slowly, his gaze still piercing, yet there was a hint of acknowledgment there. Silence filled the space between them—not the silence of fear, but of mutual assessment. Jinwoo stepped back slowly, carrying the Core, each step wrapped in caution and confidence—the world around them quiet, yet brimming with the latent threat carried in the dragon's scorching air.